TENSION DECOMPRESSION: FINGER THORACOSTOMY

Good knowledge to have and test your junior medics on. Every medic should know where the landmarks for Anterior Axillary Line needle thoracostomy and Mid Axillary Line Tubal/Finger Thoracostomy. You should be able to walk up to junior medics and "pop quiz" them by having them draw the safety triangle on their buddy with a marker and choose their site. (Some even use their povidone-iodine swabs to mark landmarks before the procedure.)People accidentally tube livers, diaphragms and all. Know your landmarks!!!

If you're placing a needle, finger or tube through the chest wall, it should be lateral and in the 4th/5th ICS.